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summer survival : popsicles

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

So, after last week’s TAGT, I’m sure you are wondering about this newfangled popsicle maker I bought. Here’s how it works:

Still don’t get it?

It’s outrageous. It’s $50. For a popsicle maker. And, I bought one that was displayed prominently in the window at Williams-Sonoma. Now, I need to give a shout out to those people (Nate and Shanna, and Phyllis) who gave me Christmas or birthday gift cards to Williams-Sonoma, otherwise I would have more than likely left this unneeded gadget on the shelves, where it should have stayed. But, because of their generosity and my insanity, I’ve got one.

This hot Fourth of July weekend was the prime time to try the contraption out. The popsicles took about 12-15 minutes to freeze, but then again, I wasn’t using properly chilled beverages like the manufacturer recommends. It made two batches of popsicles (six total), which we enjoyed outside before lunch. Haven had a popsicle made of juice and Matt and I had ones made with chocolate milk and chocolate chips. I haven’t tried to make anything elaborate just yet (need to invest in some ingredients first) but I am excited to see what else I can whip up (or rather freeze up)!

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summer survival : puddle jumper

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

puddle-jumper1

This has been a lifesaver. Well, not really, not yet. And, let’s we never have to use it in that capacity. But, we were ecstatic to find a flotation device that (a) works and (b) Haven could wear at the local pools. I don’t know what the rules are where you live, but where we are the public pools require that children wear U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD (personal flotation devices). Which essentially means a life jacket. Life jackets are great when saving your life, but isn’t so great for playing in the water…at the pool…with your parents right beside you…and lifeguards.

Manufacturer: Stearns
Model: Deluxe Puddle Jumper (Basic version available, also)
Price: $19.99 on Amazon

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summer survival : sunscreen

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

From what I can read, basically, whatever sunscreen you put on you or your child, there are risks. All contain known or potentially hazardous chemicals. The Environmental Working Group published a 2010 sunscreen guide that allows you to look at sunscreens and moisturizers, breaking down the ingredients and reasons for concerns about particular ingredients. Apparently, oxybenzone is a common ingredient in sunscreen to avoid, especially with children, since it can cause allergic reactions. It is found in the the original Coppertone Water Babies as well as knock off varieties. Oxybenzone might be the reason Haven broke out in a rash from a sunscreen. Unfortunately, oxybenzone is an ingredient in almost all of the Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens, which was my preference when it came to sunscreens. From what I have read, I think it is wise to stay clear from any sunscreens with oxybenzone for the time being, at least for Haven.

Another option to choose from are barrier creams. These sunscreens contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide and are deemed safer by many, however, if the microsized particles of titanium oxide penetrate the skin into the bloodstream (which it is believed it DOESN’t), it could be carcenogenic. Studies are ongoing to determine the risk. A downside to barrier creams is that they aren’t absorbed, therefore they leave a white coating on the skin. Also, it is sticky (therefore a magnet for sand) and hard to wash off. California Baby has a barrier cream (with titanium dioxide) and Badger has a sunscreen (http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/finding-the-best-sunscreens/320116/Badger-Sunscreen-for-Face-and-Body-Unscented-SPF/) that is another barrier cream for sensitive skin (without titanium dioxide).

puresimple

After doing some more research, I think that Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple is probably the best option for Haven. It is hypoallergenic as well as dye and fragrance free. (http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/finding-the-best-sunscreens/262429/Coppertone-Water-Babies-Pure-and-Simple-Sunscreen-Lotion-SPF/) We have used it in the past, and had good luck with it, so I went ahead and bought two bottles so we have some in stock. That is another plus. You can find this sunscreen at your local drugstore.

Posted in house and home, motherhood, product reviews | 3 Comments »

summer survival : swim diapers

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

swim-diaper

Buying disposable swim diapers can get expensive. Especially if you are planning on spending a lot of time in the water with your infant or toddler. Why not invest in some reusable swim diapers for the summer? There’s many brands out there to choose from. We bought some of the ImseVimse swim diapers, gave them a test at the beach and think they are winners. They aren’t thick like the disposables, so they fit easily under a bathing suit, which is nice. After all, the sole purpose of a swim diaper is to catch the poo. I have to say if your kid has runny diarrhea, they should not be in a pool with any swim diaper, but for solid-ish poops, these will do just fine.

As a side note, my friend Gwen said you can reuse swim diapers, as long as there is no poop. I have even read where people wash them in the washing machine and are able to use them again about four more times. I’ve not tried this, but since we are planning on spending a fair amount of time at the water, I’m considering giving it a try. Anybody else had experience with reusing swim diapers?

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uncle goose

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

uncle-goose

My grandmother bought Haven these Uncle Goose blocks and I love them. They are larger than the standard blocks out there and are so much prettier to look at than any of the other regular blocks I have seen at the store.

anatomy_of_a_block

The blocks are a little pricier, but are made in the USA. While I still think these blocks are GORGEOUS, I think I’d have a hard time letting Haven play with them.

Posted in house and home, motherhood, product reviews | 3 Comments »

puj baby tub

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

I was selected to be a product tester for the new Puj Baby tub (http://babybathtubs.com) and last week Katherine brought over her five week old daughter, Mara, and the Puj tub was christened. Check out the Puj Tub for yourself at Puj’s new website for baby bath tubs!

A few things we liked about the tub. It’s lightweight, nicely padded and easy to put together. Plus it looks cool and stores neatly since it folds flat.

What we didn’t like: Because of the drainage holes, it doesn’t hold a lot of water so we couldn’t fully submerge Mara in the water. This was disappointing to everyone involved. Speaking of drainage holes, they were actually above the sink, so water spilled over the sink, which isn’t a big deal, because you do get wet when bathing a baby, but it could be a safety issue Also, it was difficult to wash and rinse Mara’s back and behind, due to how close she was to the faucet. If you have a faucet that swings, this wouldn’t be a problem, but since most bathroom sinks don’t have moveable faucets, this definitely was a nuisance.

Also, some packaging complaints.

Although this picture doesn’t show it clearly, right above the baby’s head on the package the photo was digitally altered and you can tell that someone used an eraser tool.

Another photo editing faux pas. They used an image of a hook, but it was enlarged so that the image is blurry.

Misspelled words. A big pet peeve of mine.

I was disappointed overall with the Puj tub and would probably not recommend it to others. With a steep price tag and the lacking in functionality, although it stores nicely, isn’t worth it. Also, if the recipient lacked having a suitable sink, the bathtub cannot be used, nor could it be used in other sinks (or countertops) in the house.

Posted in house and home, product reviews | 2 Comments »

hard cards

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

front

front of card

back

inside card

These are piss-in-your-pants funny cards. I love them.

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good earth soap

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Today, I gave the dogs a bath, using Good Earth Soap’s Doggie Shampoo Bar. I love shampoo bars for my hair…they lather up nicely, and allow you to get the shampoo behind your ears and at the base of your neck, two places that liquid shampoo seems to skip when applying. Not to mention great to take on plane trips. So, Matt’s mom thought I might dig the idea of a dog shampoo bar as well, and she was right. I was able to lather up the dogs without any problem, something that is difficult with long hair dogs with thick winter coats. And, because it is in a solid form, there wasn’t any waste. The smell is lovely, not chemically like I have found most dog shampoos to be. Also, I imagine with the shampoo bar it will be easy to spot wash a hiney. A dog’s hiney, that is. Then, there’s the added benefit that it won’t leak in the dog’s travel bag, a huge plus in my book since we are often on the go. At under $6 a bar, I think it is worth a try. Oh, and in case you are wondering, they make shampoo bars for us humans as well. I am going to put their Rosemary Mint shampoo bar on my wish list.

Note: Their website doesn’t include the ingredient list for the bar, but on my packaging it says the bar contains: Water, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Castor Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Jojoba Oil, Glycerin, Essential Oils of Lemongrass & Lavender. If I could, I’d put a scratch and sniff for you to smell.

Posted in house and home, product reviews | 1 Comment »

neutrogena norwegian formula® hand cream

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007

I know that the cold winter weather seems so far away when the weather is this blistering, but if you are feeling summer heat sans humidity and have dry cracking hands and cuticles, try this product. It has truly been a lifesaver for me. For several years now my hands have become dry and cracked throughout the winter months and if I use a product with fragrance or dyes I can have an allergic reaction. As a little girl I remember my mom using Neutrogena hand cream, so last year I bought some to try it out. And last winter was the first year I had any relief from dry hands…and no allergic reaction. I began carrying it around with me everywhere and having a tube beside my bed to apply at night. Unlike lotions, it has a thick consistency, so it’s very concentrated (a little lasts you a long time, supposedly 200 applications) and it doubles as a lip moisturizer, so essentially you have a two-in-one product! It was designed for Norwegian fisherman and now many nurses swear by the product to keep their hands healthy through repeated washings. For under $5.00 grab one the next time you are at the store so when cold weather blows in you will be prepared!

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a slow death

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007

A few months ago, our handy dandy Black & Decker toaster oven crapped out. I knew it was dying, but kept pushing it, hoping to make it last just a little bit longer. But then it finally died. I was making some chocolate chip banana bread (a double batch, of course) and noticed the top of the loaves were getting crispy and too done, while the bottoms were still undone. As Beth in Ireland would say, feck.

So, I consulted Mark and Penelope about the toaster oven they fell in love with. Now, Mark and Penelope don’t joke around when they rave about a product. Mark’s been my go-to guy when it comes to recommendations and I trust his rigorous testing. This is the guy who sits outside in his hunting gear to see if it passes the test. He’s recommended the Bolle sunglasses I fell in love with (that they no longer make), Chaco sandals (yes, the ones I wore at our wedding), North Face’s Cat’s Meow sleeping bags (Yes, Craig. They can save your life), Polypropelene underwear, cell phones and probably much more.

With a steep price tag of $179.00, I was a bit reluctant to make the purchase. But, after all, we were living in a basement, cooking off a hot plate and in a toaster oven. We really needed a good toaster oven. After a few months, I’ve been quite happy with the performance. It is a little bigger than my other toaster oven, which has been great. The features are amazing, especially when toasting frozen bread. I’ve not used the convection feature yet, but have no reason to believe I’ll be disappointed. All the online reviews I’ve read have been very positive.

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